According to Jérémie Ernould, president of a commission for young elected officials at the Union of Quebec Municipalities, that difference can be attributed to the fact that municipal councillors are paid more when they represent a larger population.

"So someone elected in a large city earns a higher salary than someone elected in a small municipality," Ernould said.

When candidates have to keep their jobs because the salary isn't high enough on city council, making a jump into municipal politics isn't an obvious choice, he said.